Virginia QSO Party - 2022
Call: K4HQK
Operator(s): K4HQK
Station: K4HQK
Class: SOAB/MixedFixed HP
QTH: ALX Alexandria, VA
Operating Time (hrs): 13
Summary:
Band CW Qs Ph Qs Dig Qs
----------------------------
160: 0 0 0
80: 83 0 0
40: 212 177 0
20: 21 0 0
15: 0 0 0
10: 0 0 0
6: 0 0 0
2: 0 0 0
UHF: 0 0 0
----------------------------
Total: 316 177 0 Mults = 108 Total Score = 85,968
Club: Potomac Valley Radio Club
Comments:
Despite having lived in Virginia since 1977, I didn’t discover the VAQP until
2019. In that year and the next two my effort was mostly or entirely CW. This
time I discovered the rich field of SSB running—not S&P, but calling CQ
with a mention of ALX, my somewhat rare location--and then managing the pileup.
I don’t think I’ve ever felt as much like a DXpedition on Bouvet Island! CW
was still my primary mode, but I gained many QSOs by starting runs on 40m SSB
that I could never have accomplished operating S&P. Frankly, I hadn't
realized so many participated in state QSO parties on SSB; I thought CW
dominated. And so it was a breathtaking but satisfying experience. I’ll be
sure to include SSB runs, then, in future QSO parties.
I would add that I also had several good CW runs, especially on 40m, plus a
fairly good one Saturday night on 80m. I experienced a short one (20 calls)
Sunday on 20m that brought in a few inexplicable calls from European stations.
Although my time was a bit limited by family demands, I did manage 13 hours
spread over five sessions. The results:
No. of states worked: 34
No. of Canadian provinces worked: 4
No. of Virginia’s 133 counties/independent cities worked: 70
No. of DX countries worked (answered my CQs): 4
Operating conditions included good propagation but plenty of QRN Saturday night,
and for a while, Sunday morning from a northeast storm system.
We often say, perhaps out of obligation, that we “had fun” in a contest. I
honestly did in this one, and eagerly look forward to next year’s. You can’t
beat that feeling of being “DX”--from the home shack.
73, John K4HQK
ALX Alexandria
Station: Icom 7410, ALS-600 amp, dipoles, Cushcraft R6000 vertical
Posted using 3830 Score Submittal Forms at: http://www.3830scores.com/
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